I was going through some music files and found this gem:
Then I found this:
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Serial Commas Rock
When you are writing a list of things and it is not apporpriate to use a numbered list like this:
1. blah
2. blah
3. blah
You probably would use a sentence structure like this:
I like Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch, and Godsmack.
Notice in the second example, I inserted a comma (,) between "Punch" and "and". This is called the serial comma. I think the serial comma rocks. I think that the following example is the perfect reason to always use a serial comma. Period. 
"... those interviewed were his two ex-wives, Kris Kris... and Robert Duvall." The two ex-wives is an item in the list, Kris Kris..., is an item in the list, and Robert Duvall is the third item in the list.
If you were to put these into a numbered list, you'd really have this:
1. two ex-wives
2. Kris Kris...
3. Robert Duvall
Do you see this difference? I hope so. It is the last time I want to explain to you that the serial comma rocks.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
UNDEFEATED!
No, not talking about OSU men's basketball. I'm talking about Alex's basketball team. They won last week so they are UNDEFEATED! How fantastically awesome to start the season off with a BIG W! It has increased the confidence level of the players. They expect to win tonight in our 7:30 contest. They expect to do well. They know that to do well, they must play good defense. DEFENSE! for the UNDEFEATED!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Numbers Game
I dealt blackjack from ~7:00 to 10:00 last night. It was fun. I had a good table. My right shoulder hurts. I hope we get to do it next year. It's challenging for me to do it because I am not a numbers person. I really am not. And I don't know the rules of Blackjack to the mastery level that I should. If I would have had done a terrible job, then I don't think the people that stayed at my table and played, literally, every hand I dealt would have stayed at my table. There were 4 people like that. They helped me when I had to give them their winnings and doing double down and how to do all that. Like I said, if I would have sucked, they would have gotten up and left.
This morning, I am contemplating the definition of frustration. The definition of frustration is totally just watching money evaporate. I should be working my contract work on a PC in CR - I remotely connect through logmein.com - but for whatever reason, there's an issue with my PC in CR. I have been downstairs, in the den, since 8:00 AM and just watching my hourly rate disappear into thin air. I was expecting to put in hours today and tomorrow AM, but if I cannot connect to the PC, I cannot do any work. In one sense, I guess, it's okay because now I won't be tempted to do more work when I should be enjoying the weekend and actually relaxing a bit.
My schedule is hectic, as I have written about previously. I am typically up working until midnight and then turn around and get up @ 6 AM. Today was a luxury - I slept until 7. I like the paycheck that comes a couple of times a month and that's fantastic. I like the actual work I'm doing - always have - so that's okay. I sit in the den and listen to good music so I like that. But sometimes I question whether it is really worth it. I also question how long it can continue (the contract work) and how long I can continue (the less than 8 hours/sleep nightly) before something gives like my healthy disposition.
It's not possible to really think or consider it all today since it is now 8:48 AM, Alex didn't clear the couch of clean laundry, Megan comes home from a sleepover ~10 and Karen's folks arrive ~11-ish (that's a guess).
The rest of the day is a planned trip to CR. My plan is to meet @ Mark, Jonathan, and Tyler @ Westdale Bowling. I will drive up with Lou, Alex, and Megan. My plan would be for Susie to drive from CR to NL, which from Westdale Bowling, even a blonde cannot mess up.
We are going to 5:15 Mass and the talk has been to not play drums this week. Keith and Rhonda are not going to be there and guitarist Jim is having eye surgery. The set list is actually pretty good so I may end up playing, but we'll have to see. Maybe Susie will sing with us like she did last time. Who knows? Otherwise, I may just actually sit in the congregation.
I pulled out Pantera's "The Great Southern Trendkill" and wow. That is an aggressive piece of work. Lots of cussing and powerful music. I like it.
It's now 8:54. I can hear Karen in the shower so I'd better get out of here and get moving.
This morning, I am contemplating the definition of frustration. The definition of frustration is totally just watching money evaporate. I should be working my contract work on a PC in CR - I remotely connect through logmein.com - but for whatever reason, there's an issue with my PC in CR. I have been downstairs, in the den, since 8:00 AM and just watching my hourly rate disappear into thin air. I was expecting to put in hours today and tomorrow AM, but if I cannot connect to the PC, I cannot do any work. In one sense, I guess, it's okay because now I won't be tempted to do more work when I should be enjoying the weekend and actually relaxing a bit.
My schedule is hectic, as I have written about previously. I am typically up working until midnight and then turn around and get up @ 6 AM. Today was a luxury - I slept until 7. I like the paycheck that comes a couple of times a month and that's fantastic. I like the actual work I'm doing - always have - so that's okay. I sit in the den and listen to good music so I like that. But sometimes I question whether it is really worth it. I also question how long it can continue (the contract work) and how long I can continue (the less than 8 hours/sleep nightly) before something gives like my healthy disposition.
It's not possible to really think or consider it all today since it is now 8:48 AM, Alex didn't clear the couch of clean laundry, Megan comes home from a sleepover ~10 and Karen's folks arrive ~11-ish (that's a guess).
The rest of the day is a planned trip to CR. My plan is to meet @ Mark, Jonathan, and Tyler @ Westdale Bowling. I will drive up with Lou, Alex, and Megan. My plan would be for Susie to drive from CR to NL, which from Westdale Bowling, even a blonde cannot mess up.
We are going to 5:15 Mass and the talk has been to not play drums this week. Keith and Rhonda are not going to be there and guitarist Jim is having eye surgery. The set list is actually pretty good so I may end up playing, but we'll have to see. Maybe Susie will sing with us like she did last time. Who knows? Otherwise, I may just actually sit in the congregation.
I pulled out Pantera's "The Great Southern Trendkill" and wow. That is an aggressive piece of work. Lots of cussing and powerful music. I like it.
It's now 8:54. I can hear Karen in the shower so I'd better get out of here and get moving.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Back to Busy, but not even Busiest
This is not complaining about my life. It is very full and exciting. There is always something that needs to be done. For example, schedule for today through next Sunday is as follows:
Sunday...
I lean Republican. I cannot stand watching MSNBC for extended periods of time. Keith O is not someone I subscribe to as having a lot of credit in how I view the world. Listen to as much of the following as you can. He talks about how Republicans need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay, how Democrats need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay and with those ideas, "eliminate" means to remove them from political events for their party. He points to Sarah Palin having bullseyes on specific people on her website. He says that if she doesn't remove that from her website, then she needs to be removed from her party's politics. I have to agree with him, to that extent. I think that violence is not acceptable. I could tell you stories about fights I was in during elementary, junior high and high school. It sucks. I hated it. I digress. Violence is not something anyone should have to go through and Keith O makes that point.
Sunday...
- Going to CR to see Unstoppable at the Collins Road Theater
- Visiting my mother
- Home by 4:30 so Alex can get to 5:00 basketball practice and I can get to my meeting in Riverside by 6
- Home by 8 for new Desparate Housewives
- Contract work to end the evening
- Work 8 hours
- Sax/Drum lessons
- Contract work to end the evening
- Work 8 hours
- NOTHING @ Night
- Contract work to end the evening
- Work 8 hours
- NOTHING @ Night
- Contract work to end the evening
- Work 8 hours
- Alex's basketball game is @ 8:30
- Contract work to end the evening
- Work 8 hours
- Help at a casino night holiday party
- Celebrate Mother-in-Law's birthday with family
- Celebrate Mother-in-Law's birthday with family
- Alex is going snowboarding on a bus trip
I lean Republican. I cannot stand watching MSNBC for extended periods of time. Keith O is not someone I subscribe to as having a lot of credit in how I view the world. Listen to as much of the following as you can. He talks about how Republicans need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay, how Democrats need to eliminate anyone that presents the idea that violence of any kind is okay and with those ideas, "eliminate" means to remove them from political events for their party. He points to Sarah Palin having bullseyes on specific people on her website. He says that if she doesn't remove that from her website, then she needs to be removed from her party's politics. I have to agree with him, to that extent. I think that violence is not acceptable. I could tell you stories about fights I was in during elementary, junior high and high school. It sucks. I hated it. I digress. Violence is not something anyone should have to go through and Keith O makes that point.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Cuteness
I saw this on the Culture Loves Us blog:
And in other news, Unstoppable is @ the Collins Road Five theater. It is the movie about Denzel Washington and another guy stopping a runaway train.
And in other news, Unstoppable is @ the Collins Road Five theater. It is the movie about Denzel Washington and another guy stopping a runaway train.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
THE WORST TOUR EVER!!
If you've paid attention, I've griped about bands that play KC, then the Twin Cities, then Milwaukee, then Chicago, then St. Louis and then head east or bands that are coming from the east that follow the reverse course and do St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, and KC. Those bands skip Iowa, where I live. I know Iowa does not have a huge share of CD sales, but we are music fans. Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo is going on a solo tour. These are a few of his dates:
1/7 Dayton, OH @ McGuffy’s House Of Rock
1/8 Sandusky, OH @ The Underground
1/9 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
1/11 Warren, MI @ The Ritz
1/12 Rockford, IL @ Bar 3
1/13 Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
1/14 Peoria, IL @ The Brass Rail <==
1/15 West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room <==
1/18 Lincoln, NE @ Knickerbockers <==
Look at these last three dates. Granted, yes, there are 3 days between West Hollywood, CA and Lincoln, NE, but still! That's an AWFUL tour schedule, unless the gig at the Viper Room is opening for a secret Metallica gig or something like that. Otherwise, what the hell was the tour manager thinking when they agreed to this ridiculous route?!?
1/7 Dayton, OH @ McGuffy’s House Of Rock
1/8 Sandusky, OH @ The Underground
1/9 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
1/11 Warren, MI @ The Ritz
1/12 Rockford, IL @ Bar 3
1/13 Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
1/14 Peoria, IL @ The Brass Rail <==
1/15 West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room <==
1/18 Lincoln, NE @ Knickerbockers <==
Look at these last three dates. Granted, yes, there are 3 days between West Hollywood, CA and Lincoln, NE, but still! That's an AWFUL tour schedule, unless the gig at the Viper Room is opening for a secret Metallica gig or something like that. Otherwise, what the hell was the tour manager thinking when they agreed to this ridiculous route?!?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Three Things Tonight...
- Lorenzo is a band I saw at Waterstock in Des Moines a few years ago. Their CD is really good - recently spent some time getting reacquainted with it. The lead singer was also in a band called Echo Park and I spent some time with that band as well. I like Lorenzo better. If Lorenzo was a natural progression of Echo Park, then whatever Lorenzo becomes will be sensational.
- I stumbled upon Angry Metal Guy and while he thinks the f-bomb is a necessity in his writing in the same vein that Eddie Murphy did during the "Delirious" concert, I still found his opinions to be interesting. I also find it interesting that a lot of the bands written about are ones I've never heard of. I considered myself 'with it' as far as bands go, but this 'angry metal guy' made me feel like I hadn't listened to metal for as long as I have.
- Finally, came across a website where you can download entire albums of heavy metal bands at Free Metal Albums. I downloaded ArtCell - Aniket Prantor (No Man's Land) and wow... it's sung in a language called Bangla. I have no idea what they're singing about. The first couple of tracks didn't trip my trigger, but I resolve to spend more time with them as I sit at my PC in the den.
In other news, work is going good. I feel more at home, which is refreshing. Things are turning into a reasonable pattern. On top of that, I am doing contract work for my previous employer so I am quite busy. It is only going to get busier as next week Alex's final basketball season begins. I hope we do well in our final session.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
How to Give Up Pop
I drink Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Live Wire (the orange) and I drink them daily. Giving them up is one of those things that I know I should do, but it never gets done. This video is a clear-cut solution, but life is rarely clear-cut. I know my friend Brad dropped drinking a lot of pop.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Start Begins
It's a new era in my life. The sun is shining, Spitalfield is playing, and frankly, I feel great. I didn't cut loose last night. I don't plan to do so in 2011, a New Year's resolution, if you believe in them. I don't think I do. I'm more of a 'change the lifestyle because the old lifestyle isn't helpful to me' type of person. I don't need "1/1/11" to decide, "I'm going to do more of X, I'm going to eat less of Y." or declarations like that. No one keeps their New Year's resolutions. No one remembers what they swore so emphatically today in six months. Why bother?
Instead, I'll go on record and say I am going to have a much better 2011 than 2010. Period. I am going to take the necessary steps to ensure my life is the way I want to live it. I will do so by making small steps in the direction I want to go. I understand fully that some of the decisions I make have an impact on others. Fine. I also understand that I only have one life. This is it. This is the only life I get to live. If I want to live it the way I want, I no longer consider it selfish or self-centered. You, reading this, have that power. Perhaps you consider it too difficult to make a change in your life, that you are firmly entrenched in the patterns and routines that have defined your life. I would rather define my life first, then come up with the patterns and routines that help me carry out how I have defined my life. I see a subtle difference in the way I phrase that concept.
Welcome to 2011. Without a doubt, I feel the most empowered by my disposition and attitude. I am hopeful that the start begins today and carries through for longer than 1 month or 2 months or 3 months. I want it to last so that when I sit in front of this PC on 1/1/2012, I can reread this and think back to what I feel right now and feel comforted by the fact that I did what I said I was going to do in 2011.
Instead, I'll go on record and say I am going to have a much better 2011 than 2010. Period. I am going to take the necessary steps to ensure my life is the way I want to live it. I will do so by making small steps in the direction I want to go. I understand fully that some of the decisions I make have an impact on others. Fine. I also understand that I only have one life. This is it. This is the only life I get to live. If I want to live it the way I want, I no longer consider it selfish or self-centered. You, reading this, have that power. Perhaps you consider it too difficult to make a change in your life, that you are firmly entrenched in the patterns and routines that have defined your life. I would rather define my life first, then come up with the patterns and routines that help me carry out how I have defined my life. I see a subtle difference in the way I phrase that concept.
Welcome to 2011. Without a doubt, I feel the most empowered by my disposition and attitude. I am hopeful that the start begins today and carries through for longer than 1 month or 2 months or 3 months. I want it to last so that when I sit in front of this PC on 1/1/2012, I can reread this and think back to what I feel right now and feel comforted by the fact that I did what I said I was going to do in 2011.
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